Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne expressed his admiration for his team following their impressive 42-16 victory over Samoa in their opening match of the 2024 Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, which took place in Suva last Friday. Byrne highlighted the performance of the young squad, bolstered by seasoned veterans, as they rose to the occasion.
“They did well straight off the bat,” Byrne stated. He praised the team’s discipline, particularly in the first half, noting that they had only three training sessions prior to the match. He also acknowledged the excellent leadership from the coaching staff.
Additionally, he commended the debutants for their impressive performances in front of the home crowd. “Deep down, you know they’re going to be nervous, and they will try to play well. I thought they did well when they got their hands on the ball,” he commented.
With the Flying Fijians enjoying a bye week in Pool A of the Pacific Nations Cup, all eyes will be on the upcoming match between Tonga and Samoa this weekend. The team is using this time to prepare for their next significant challenge against Tonga.